`word' of the King!"

I stepped forth from the camp with my face turned northward. Before I
had gone far I heard a sound of singing, and footsteps behind me, and
immediately I was overtaken by my brother, and behind him the four
Amaholi bearing loads.

"Whither are we bound, son of my father?" he asked, now that he had time
for speech. I told him.

"_Whau_! It is like the King sending two men to take a whole nation by
the beard!" he said, with a joyous laugh. "Yet, Untuswa, I am glad to
be one of those chosen, for know that I am tired of my own hair, and
would fain wear the ring instead of it. Moreover, thou sayest that
these Bakoni maidens are fair."

"Thou shalt soon see for thyself, Mgwali. Yet it may be that a grimmer
embrace awaits us both in their town. How likest thou that, son of my
father?"

"I care not. _Hau! Ibubese_!" he cried, hurling an assegai with the
quickness of lightning at a long, yellow gliding shape, which had darted
from a thicket in front of us. But the lion uttered a quick, frightened
yelp, and made off unhurt. The spear had fallen short.

"No more of that--no more of that!" I cried, in anger. "We are on the
King's service, boy. No time have we to stop and hunt. Our game lies
yonder, and it may be yet more dangerous than the slaying of lions."

Not many days had we to travel before we drew near the Great Place of
the Bakoni; and, from the commotion which our appearance excited among
the inhabitants of such outlying kraals as we passed, we felt pretty
sure that the news of our approach had already been conveyed to the
chief. And such, indeed, was the case; for on the last rise, which
should bring us within sight of the town, we were surrounded by two
large bands of armed warriors.

"Delay us not," I cried haughtily, with a wave of the hand, as these
made as though they would have drawn up across our path. "Delay us not.
We carry the `word' of the Black Elephant to the Chief of the Blue
Cattle."

We did not halt, we did not slacken our pace. We marched right into the
midst of that company of armed men as though none were there. They gave
way in silence, but formed up on either side of us in the manner of an
escort, and in this order we drew near to the town--not exchanging a
word, though we could hear the slaves behind, who bore our burdens,
whispering to each other excitedly. Thus we entered, and as we did so
the same thought was in both our minds. How, and in what